The Union coffee mill gate at Kerugoya
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Born on the slopes,
built by farmers

Since 1959, the umbrella body of Kirinyaga’s coffee cooperatives — milling, marketing and investing on behalf of over 120,000 smallholder farmers.

01 Who We Are

The future of coffee is with its founders — the farmers

Founded in 1959, Kirinyaga County Cooperative Union Ltd represents 14 primary coffee cooperatives on the fertile southern slopes of Mt. Kenya. We carry the farmer's voice through the entire value chain — milling at Kirinyaga County Coffee Mill Ltd, trading through Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Co. Ltd.

  • /01 Governance vested in farmers via society-appointed directors
  • /02 Quality · Innovation · Integrity · Sustainability (QIIS)
  • /03 Diversified, sustainable coffee-based products & services
Our Full Story
Farmer standing among green coffee plantsStand-in — original KCCU photography to follow
FARMER OWNED · FARMER GOVERNED · SINCE 1959 ·
14
Member Societies
65
Coffee Factories
2,990t
Clean Coffee · 2025/26
1,353t
Of Which AA Grade
05 Milestones

Seven decades of growth

1953

The first societies

Baragwi and Kibirigwi Farmers' Cooperative Societies are registered — the oldest of today's members.

1954

The founding generation

Inoi, Kabare, Mutira and Mwirua follow, laying the base of Kirinyaga's cooperative coffee.

1959

The Union is founded

The primary societies unite under one umbrella body to strengthen the farmers' hand.

1963

Mirichi joins

The Union grows through independence-era Kenya.

1997

A new generation of societies

Kanjuu, Karithathi, New Ngariama, Rungeto, Rwama and Thirikwa are registered, bringing membership to 14 societies and 65 factories.

2000s

Investing beyond coffee

The Union diversifies into buildings and rentals, creating sustainable income for members.

Today

Milling & trading under one roof

Kirinyaga County Coffee Mill Ltd and CMA-regulated Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Ltd put farmers in control of milling and marketing.

07 Governance

Owned by farmers,
answerable to farmers

Authority flows upward from the farm. Every society appoints directors to the Union board; the board appoints management and oversees the Mill and the Brokerage.

/01
120,000+ Smallholder FarmersThe owners of every cherry and every vote
/02
14 Primary Cooperative SocietiesFarmer-elected leadership at every society
/03
Appointed DirectorsEach society appoints directors to represent its members
/04
KCCU Board & ManagementStewarding the Union, the Mill and the Brokerage
Mountain landscape at dusk
For Buyers & Roasters

Taste the slopes of
Mt. Kenya